The form of invitation which the bells rung out varies very much in the
different versions.
In Richard Johnson's ballad (1612) we find--
"Whittington, back return."
which is then amplified into--
"Turn againe, Whittington,
For thou in time shall grow
Lord Maior of London."
In T. H.'s _History_ (see p. 11) we have--
"Turn again, Whittington, Lord Mayor of London."
In the later chap-book version this is altered into--
"Turn again, Whittington,
Lord Mayor of great London."
It will be seen that the special reference to the fact that Whittington
was three times Lord Mayor is not to be found in either the ballads or
the chap-books.
In the _Life_, by the author of _George Barnwell_ (1811), however we
read--
"Return again, Whittington,
Thrise Lord Mayor of London."
And in _The Life and Times of Whittington_ (1841)--
"Turn again, turn again, Whittington,
Three times Lord Mayor of London."
In the early version of the _History_ by T. H. the fanciful portions are
only allowed to occupy a small portion of the whole, and a long account
is given of Whittington's real actions, but, in the later chap-book
versions, the historical incidents are ruthlessly cut down, and the
fictitious ones amplified.
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